Yes. Sexual dysfunction including difficulty achieving and sustaining erections (erectile dysfunction) is more common in men with epilepsy than in the general population. Several factors likely play a role.
Epilepsy itself may cause sexual dysfunction, especially if seizures are poorly controlled. Disruptions in hormone levels and brain activity may impair sexual desire and performance. In many cases, improved seizure control alleviates sexual dysfunction.
Drugs used to treat epilepsy may also cause sexual dysfunction. Anti-seizure medications, such as phenytoin and carbamazepine, can decrease testosterone levels in men, which in turn reduces sexual desire and impairs sexual function. If a specific anti-seizure medication is the likely culprit of erectile dysfunction, your doctor may recommend an alternative medication.
In addition, psychological factors such as depression, sexual anxiety or stigma associated with epilepsy can contribute to sexual dysfunction in men with epilepsy.
If you have epilepsy and erectile dysfunction, consult your doctor. Your doctor may refer you to a urologist to make sure that your erectile dysfunction isn’t due to an unrelated urological condition. In any case, a careful assessment is needed to determine the cause and best treatment for erectile dysfunction.
Source: Mayoclinic
Continue Reading July 26th, 2007
In a new study that will be published in the July 17th issue of the journal Circulation, Canadian researchers reveal that the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra (Sildenafil), may likely be effective in the treatment of patients with right-sided heart failure, principally because their study shows that only the hearts of these patients exhibit the target molecules that can be blocked by these types of drugs.
The study was led by Drs. Jayan Nagendran, a cardiac surgery resident and Evangelos Michelakis, professor in the Department of Surgery and the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Alberta in Canada.
The researchers wanted to gain insight into the mechanism of how Viagra may benefit patients with pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lung vessels). This devastating condition usually leads to right-sided (right ventricle) heart failure.
In their study, the researchers evaluated heart specimens from 9 patients to assess their phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE-5) activity and their response to specific type-5 PDE inhibitors such as Viagra.
PDE-5 is an enzyme that degrades the activity of cGMP, a chemical that relaxes smooth muscle cells. In the vasculature, relaxation of smooth muscle cells causes vessels to dilate thereby increasing blood flow.
PDE-5 is preponderant in the corpus cavernosum of the penis. When it’s inhibited, it leads to higher cGMP levels and less dilation (more constriction) of the blood vessels that let blood escape from the corpus cavernosum and thereby leading to a sustained erection.
The researchers essentially found that PDE-5 was not expressed in heart samples from patients that were healthy. Conversely, they did discover that patients with enlarged right heart ventricles had marked increased PDE-5 activity.
When the research team used Viagra (the PDE-5 inhibitor) in their experiments, they found that it increased the activity of isolated cardiac cells and the strength of heart contractions only in unhealthy samples and patients and not in any of the healthy controls.
In the press release from the University of Alberta, Dr. Nagendran stated that “there are a number of medical conditions in both children and adults for which there is a need to boost the performance of the right ventricle, and this drug can be clinically and immediately relevant to help these patients”
Dr. Michelakis also added that “We have a number of drugs and therapies available to treat the left ventricle of the heart to prevent it from failing or to treat it after it has failed, bet we don’t have anything for the right ventricle. The phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibtors, which include Viagra and similar other drugs may offer some important benefits in this case.”
Viagra (Sildenafil) has been recently approved in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension.
Source: Associatedcontent
Continue Reading July 19th, 2007
ED affects up to 50 per cent of men at some point in their lives and is generally treated with the use of oral medications like Cialis, Viagra and Levitra. A study by a psychologist finds oral drugs like Viagra improve sexual performance but not a mans sexual health. Not to worry, another new study finds Viagra can improve heart function and potentially save the lives of people with specific heart problems. The net results imply a longer life with poor sexual health but good sexual function.
Viagra is a magic blue pill used to treat erectile dysfunction among men and can be obtained on prescription from anywhere. A new study finds Viagra can improve heart function and potentially save the lives of people with specific heart problems.
Continue Reading July 14th, 2007
Erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence as it is often called, affects men of all ages. There was a time when treatments were few and success of treatment was rare. That was before the ED drug everyone has heard of. That was before “the little blue pill.” That was before Viagra.
Viagra (sildenafil) belongs to a group of medicines that delay the enzymes called phosphodiesterase from working too quickly. By controlling phosphodiesterase, sildenafil helps to maintain an erection that is produced when the penis is physically stimulated. We have all heard of the popularity of Viagra. In fact, men of all ages are finding a new found sexual youth because of the little blue pill. But like any prescription medication, Viagra is not without its pitfalls and problems however.
Source: About
Continue Reading July 6th, 2007
Only a few years ago, most impotence or erectile dysfuntion (ED) cases were thought to be psychological in nature. But the past decade or so has seen new treatments developed that range from penile implants and vacuum devices to the new, non-invasive drug therapies like Viagra. This variety of treatment options offers physicians the ability to successfully treat most patients.
Erectile dysfuntion is certainly among the most under-treated of medical conditions. Currently, only five to ten percent of men who suffer from impotence seek treatment. Millons of men in this country today suffer from erectile dysfunction and the number is increasing.
While ED affects men directly, the condition also has a huge impact on the relationship a man has with his partner and may lead to depression in both. While it affects men directly, the condition also has a huge impact on the relationship a man has with his partner and may lead to depression in both.
Currently, virtually any man who wishes to have erectile function can obtain it, regardless of the underlying cause of his problem. Many reasonable treatment options exist. The first step is to find a well-trained, experienced, and compassionate doctor who is willing to take the time to understand you and fully discuss the treatments available to you.
Of course you just do noy jump into treatment. Sex counseling is an important part of erectile dysfunction management. Many professional sex counselors are skilled in working with patients with ED, but the primary care doctor and urologist may also serve in this capacity to some degree. These are usually the first professionals to learn about the problem.
Expectedly, men are frequently reluctant to discuss their sexual problems and need to be specifically asked, but opening a dialogue allows the doctor to begin the investigation or refer you to a consultant. After testing is completed, your doctor can then discuss your particular situation, the most likely cause, and reasonable treatment options.
Options are varied, including sex counseling, medications, external vacuum devices, hormonal therapy, penile injections or intraurethral suppositories. In highly selected cases under the supervision of a specialist in ED, combination therapy using several of these methods together can be used. If none of these therapies is satisfactory, penile prosthesis implants can be considered.
Sildenafil citrate (Viagra) is probably the most common prescription medication for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Its the first oral medicine available thats been proven to improve erections in most men with impotence.
However it is important to note that Viagra doesnt improve erections in normal men, only in those with difficulty in achieving or maintaining erections sufficient for sexual intercourse due to a true medical problem. It is not an aphrodisiac and will not increase desire. In general, it works successfully in about 65-70 per cent of all impotent men. There are several other drugs very similar to Viagra approved for treating ED and are available strictly through prescription.
Source: Vanguardngr
Continue Reading July 4th, 2007
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